Time switch



Oct. 3, 1933. l COTNAREANU 1,929,138

TIME SWITCH Filed Nov. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tig. I

- 1933- a. coTNAREANu TIME SWITCH Filed Nov. 20 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W M Wm 4% z? M Patented Dot. 3, 1933 PATENT OFFICE TIME SWITCH Ionel Cotnareanu, Paris, France Application November 20, 1930, Serial -No.

497,046, and in France November 28, 1929 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a time switch adaptable for operation at a predetermined time, the duration of such operation also being predetermined.

The releasing device forming the subject of the invention is essentially characterized by the iact that the'duration of contact closure is dejterrnined by one or more discs provided with helicoidal grooves and actuated either by a o'suitable clockwork mechanism or by other suitable means, each of the said grooves being intended to coact with an intermediate portion inserted between resilient blades, bringing about the closing and breaking of the contacts, and "with the above-mentioned grooved disc.

In one of the formsof the invention, this intermediate portion consists of a crank lever acting jointly with a unit formed by two resilient blades, one of which constantly rests on a notched cam actuated by the clockwork mechanism, whilethe other blade tends to act, at its free end, on-a tipper intended to bring the horizontal part of said crank lever back into 'its original position, after its disconnection from the grooved disc. I

In another form, a sliding piece, made of insulating ,material and acting jointly with a pawl-carrying arm, is inserted between the resilient blades and the grooved disc, the displacement of this sliding piece either closing the contacts and simultaneously engaging the ,pawl in the helicoidal groove or grooves, or

opening the said contacts and simultaneously disconnecting the pawl-carrying lever from the grooved disc, as the case may be. This pawlcarrying; lever is provided with a spring intended to force the lever back into its original position sosoon as the pawl has left the helicoidal groove or grooves of the rotating disc.

- Q The annexed drawing shows, as examples and absolutely diagrammatically, two embodiments of the invention. 1

Figure 1 is a general view of one form of r construction of the releasing device, according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a-section along the line II-II of Figure 1; v Figure 3 is an elevation of a variation;

Figure 4 is a plan view. 30 As maybe seen from Figure 1, the releasing device formingthe subject of this invention comprises a resilient blade A fixed at one end to the mechanism plate and constantly resting against a notched camshaft B moving on an s: axle C which carries a pawl or p I, intended to be inserted in the notch of the above-mentioned camshaft. The camshaft B coacts with a wheel actuated by the clockwork mechanism. The position of the pawl or pin I determines the instant when the alarm commences to work; 6 this position is'adjusted in the usual manner by means of the pin 1 fixed on the axle C. On the lower part of the blade E is fixed an insulating plate D provided with two terminals J and J, to which wires are connected. On 5 the terminal J is fixed a thin metallic blade E having near the top a boss intended to come into contact with the other terminal J; the tendency of the blade E is to keep the contact open and to move the horizontal part of a crank lever F forming part of the unit formed by the two blades A and E, the bent end of which, F, is extended, when the alarm operates, to move in the helicoidal groove made on one of the surfaces of the disc H actuated bythe clockwork mechanism, or by any other suitable means.

A tipper G made of insulating material is mounted on the vertical part of the crank lever F near the upper end of. the resilient blade E, this tipper being intended, as isshown in Figure 2, to force the horizontal part of the crank lever back into its original position as soon as the bent end, F, of said lever is disconnected from the disc H.

The operation of the device just described is as follows;

As cam B turns on axle C, its notch reaches the pin I, which engages therein. Resilient blade 9 A thereupon causes this cam to move longitudinally on axle C. At the same time, the bent end F of the crank lever F comes into contact with disc H.

Because of the great resiliency of blade A, blade E, under the pressure of lever F, comes into contact with terminal J, thus closing the contacts, which brings said device into action. Disc H is thereupon made to rotate, actuating crank lever F, the bent end of which, F, moves in the heli- 0 coidal groove in said disc until end F has reached the end of the said groove on the periphery of said disc. At that moment, the lever becomes disconnected from the disc and contact is broken between blade E and terminal J.

The construction shown in Figures 3 and 4 is substantially indentical with that shown in Figures 1 and 2, the only difference being that resilient blade A carries an insulatingplate D, the lower end of which moves on the sliding piece G, 710

. signal.

made of insulating material and acting jointly with a lever K having a pawl F.

On the insulating plate D are fixed two terminals, J and J, to which the contacts are connected. On the terminal J is fixed a thin metallic blade E having at its lower end a boss intended to come into contact with the other terminal J The tendency of this blade E is to keep the circuit open and its free end makes the piece G, acting jointly with the lever K, slide, and follow its movements. On its rear surface disc H has a helicoidal groove to take pawl F when the contacts are closed. It is the duration of the movement of the said pawl in the said helicoidal groove which determines the duration of the contact closure. The disc H is mounted on the axle of a suitable part of the clockwork mechanism.

A spring N, fixed by one end on lever K, forces said lever back into its original position as soon as pawl F becomes disconnected from disc H.

The operation of the construction which has just been described is as follows;

When cam B turns on axle C, its notch, at the predetermined time, reaches pin I, which engages therein. The resilient blade A, thus released, moves forward and displaces cam B on the abovementioned axle C, and simultaneously actuates sliding piece G through the blade E. Pawl F thereupon engages in the helicoidal groove on disc H, so that the boss on the blade E comes into contact with terminal J and thus brings about the closing of the contacts. Disc H actuates lever K, the pawl of which moves along in the helicoidal groove in the said disc until pawl F reaches the end of the said groove leading to the periphery of disc H. At this moment, lever K disconnects from disc H, thus breaking the contact between the boss on the blade E and terminal J.

As disc H moves at a speed which can be predetermined, the time during which the circuit is closed is predetermined.

In addition, the duration of the contact closure can be regulated by varying the original position of pawl F in the helicoidal groove or grooves.

It may be advisable in certain cases to be able to interrupt the operation of the contacts at will. For this purpose the device forming the subject of the invention is provided with a special lever L actuated by a button M, and the inner end of which is so arranged that it is possible at any time to disconnect pawl F from disc H. The lever L, which can be operated by means of a button M, at its lower end has an inwardly bent extremity adapted to contact with the reentrant part F of the lever F. Thus, the user is able, by means of a pressure exerted on the button M, to make the reentrant extremity of the lever F detach itself from the plate 8. There is thus obtained an interruption, at the will of the operator, of the alarm As pointed out above, this interruption can be obtained at any desired moment.

What I claim is 1. In a clockwork actuated alarm, an adjustable element adapted to be set for any predetermined time, a gear adapted to be connected to a clockwork, said gear being movably axially and having a cam surface formed thereon facing said adjustable means, a spring tending to maintain said cam surface in contact with said adjustable means, an insulating element mounted on said spring and supporting a pair of electrical terminals, anaxially displaceable disc having a head formed thereon, resilient means extending from one of the terminals supported on said insulating element to said head, and means operative to displace said resilient element so as to close the circuit between said terminals.

2. A clockwork-operated switch, comprising adjustable means adapted to be set for any predetermined time, a set of contacts, means normally preventing one of said electrical contacts from closing with the other, a spring tending to force said second mentioned means towards said adjustable means, to render said second mentioned means inoperable, means operable by movement of said spring to close the circuit between said contacts, and means operable to open the circuit between said contacts, said last mentioned means comprising a rotatable disc having a helicoidal groove formed therein, and a rod having one extremity mounted in said groove, said rod being operative to effect the opening of said circuit when the said extremity departs from the said groove.

3. A clockwork-operated switch, comprising adjustable means adapted to be set for any predetermined time, a set of contacts, means normally preventing one of said electrical contacts from, closing with the other, a spring tending to force 100 said second mentioned means towards said adjustable means, to render said second mentioned means inoperable, means operable by movement of said spring to close the circuit between said contacts, means operable to open the circuit be- "I05 tween said contacts, said last mentioned means comprising a rotatable disc having a helicoidal groove formed therein, and a rod having one extremity mounted in said groove, said rod being operative to effect the opening of said circuit I10 when the said extremity departs from the said groove, and means operable at will for efiecting the opening of the circuit before the rod has reached the end of the groove.

4. A clockwork-operated switch, comprising adjustable means adapted to be set for any predetermined time, a set of contacts, means normally preventing one of said electrical contacts from closing with the other, a spring tending. to force said second mentioned means towards said adjustable means, to render said second" mentioned means inoperable, means operable by movement of said spring to close the circuit between said contacts, means operable to open, the circuit between said contacts, said last mentioned means comprising a rotatable disc having a helicoidal groove formed therein, and a rod having one extremity mounted in said groove, said rod being operative to effect the opening of said circuit when the said extremity departs'lao from the said groove, and means operable at will for withdrawing said rod from said groove before it has reached the end thereof.

5. A clockwork-operated switch, comprising adjustable means adapted to be set for any predetermined time, a set of contacts, means normally preventing one of said electrical contacts from closing with the other, a spring tending to force said second mentioned means towards said adjustable means, to render said second men-'14, tioned means inoperable, means operable by movement of said spring to close the circuit between said contacts, means operable to open the circuit between said contacts, said last mentioned means comprising a rotatable disc having a helicoidal groove formed therein, and a rod having one extremity mounted in said groove, said rod being operative to effect the opening of said circuit when the said extremity departs from the said groove, and manually operable means for removing the rod from the groove before it has reached the end thereof, in order toopen the circuit at will.

6. A clockwork-operated switch, comprising adjustable means adapted to be set for any predetermined time, a set of contacts, means normally preventing one of said electrical contacts from closing with the other, a spring tending to force said second mentioned means towards said adjustable means, to render said second mentioned means inoperable, means operable by movement of said spring to close the circuit between said contacts, means operable to open the circuit between said contacts, said last mentioned means comprising a rotatable disc having av helicoidal groove formed therein, and a rod having one extremity mounted in said groove, said rod being operative to efiect the opening of said circuitwhen the said extremity departs from the said groove, and a manually operable lever adapted to effect the opening of said circuit at will by removing said rod from said groove at any point of its travel therealong.

7. In a clockwork actuated alarm, an adjustable element adapted to be set for any predetermined time, a gear adapted to be connected to a clockwork, said gear being movably axially and having a cam surface formed thereon facing said adjustable means, a spring tending to maintain said cam surface in contact with said adjustable means, an insulating element mounted on said spring and supporting a pair of electrical terminals, an axially displaceable disc having a head formed thereon, resilient contact means extending from one of the terminals supported on said insulating element to said head, a stationary contact, means operative to displace saidresilient contact element so as to close the contacts, means for opening the contacts after a predetermined interval, and a manually operable lever for opening said contacts at any desired moment before the expiration of said interval.

IONEL COTNAREANU. 

